Nevada takes center stage

By Michael Mishak (contact)

Friday, Nov. 16, 2007 | 3:25 p.m.

The latest stage in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination effectively ended in a draw Thursday night as Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards came out aggressively against front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton.

But Clinton, joking that she was wearing an asbestos pantsuit to protect her from attacks at the Las Vegas debate, responded effectively, reestablishing control over the terms of the discussion and recovering from her stumble during last month's debate in Philadelphia.

A clear winner, however, was Nevada, whose issues - and Democratic caucus - entered the national spotlight. Just as important, the debate brought the national media to learn about the Nevada caucus and meet local activists and policymakers in a state largely off the political radar.

The proposed nuclear repository at Yucca Mountain, renewable energy and immigration were given wide airings. The word "Culinary" was uttered and it referred to a union member.

But first, all eyes were on Clinton in an event CNN had promoted with all manner of Vegas cliches as the political conflict of the year.

Indeed, anchor Campbell Brown got right to the point, asking Obama about what Edwards had deemed Clinton's "politics of parsing."

"Sen. Clinton is a capable politician and has run a terrific campaign but what the American people are looking for now is straight answers to tough questions," Obama said. "That is not what we've seen from Sen. Clinton. What I'm absolutely convinced of is we need a new kind of politics."

Clinton promptly attacked Obama on his health care plan, which she said fails to cover 15 million Americans. "That's the population of Nevada, South Carolina, Iowa and New Hampshire," she said, naming the four early-voting states.

And then: "You know, we can have a different politics, but let's not forget the people who we're against are not going to be giving up without a fight. The Republicans are not going to leave the White House voluntarily."

Edwards then launched into a core theme of his campaign: He attacked Clinton for defending a corrupt system.

"We will not change this country if we replace a bunch of corporate Republicans with a bunch of corporate Democrats," he said. Both Obama and Clinton have raked in millions from wealthy business donors, though Edwards has wealthy backers of his own.

Clinton responded: "I respect all of my colleagues on this stage. We're Democrats and we're trying to nominate the best person we can. I don't mind taking hits on my record on the issues but when somebody starts throwing mud at least we can hope it's accurate and not right out of the Republican playbook."

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, nominated again for a Nobel Peace Prize for his long history as an international mediator, played peacemaker: "Let's stop this mudslinging. Let's stop this going after each other on character and trust. Let us debate the issues that affect the American people and let us be positive," he said to applause.

From there, much of the aggressive tension drained from the room and the debate became a much more staid affair.

A number of Nevadans were chosen to ask questions. An Iraq war veteran and his mother asked what the candidates would do to prevent war with Iran. (The crowd gave the veteran a standing ovation, the only one of the night.)

Other Nevadans asked about military pay, racial profiling, immigration, Social Security and Medicare.

The CNN debate moderators gave a nod to local issues by asking Obama about nuclear energy, which he favors as part of a broader energy plan, and what he would do with the waste that results.

Obama opposes continuing construction at Yucca Mountain.

"If not in your back yard, whose?" came a question.

Obama said he would invest in technology to safely dispose of the waste.

What if no technology solution can be found?

"Don't keep assuming we can't do it," Obama replied. "I'm running for president because I think we can do it. I reject the notion that we can't meet our energy challenges. We shouldn't be pessimistic about the future of America."

The candidates also tangled about whether driver's licenses should be given to illegal immigrants, a question that tripped up Clinton in Philadelphia when she wouldn't say for sure whether she supported New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's now defunct plan to do so.

Obama said he favored the policy when he was an Illinois state senator, but then gave a nuanced answer that drew catcalls from the crowd.

Clinton gave a succinct "no" when asked whether she favored the proposal.

Nevadans may be familiar with this issue: Gov. Jim Gibbons attacked his challenger in last year's election, state Sen. Dina Titus, by incorrectly claiming in a widely aired advertising campaign that she favored such a policy.

One issue that never arose, perhaps the most pressing, was a long-term problem the state faces: water.